Effects of Mixed Pasture Legume Phytoestrogens on Superovulatory Response and Embryo Quality in Angus Cows
Ovulation and artificial insemination rates have been observed to decrease in sheep and cows when exposed to dietary phytoestrogens at concentrations greater than 25 mg/kg DM. A grazing trial was undertaken to investigate the effects of coumestrol and other key phytoestrogens on the superovulatory r...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/1125 |
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| author | Jessica M. Wyse Rory P. Nevard Jaymie Loy Paul A. Weston Saliya Gurusinghe Jeffrey McCormick Leslie A. Weston Cyril P. Stephen |
| author_facet | Jessica M. Wyse Rory P. Nevard Jaymie Loy Paul A. Weston Saliya Gurusinghe Jeffrey McCormick Leslie A. Weston Cyril P. Stephen |
| author_sort | Jessica M. Wyse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ovulation and artificial insemination rates have been observed to decrease in sheep and cows when exposed to dietary phytoestrogens at concentrations greater than 25 mg/kg DM. A grazing trial was undertaken to investigate the effects of coumestrol and other key phytoestrogens on the superovulatory response, embryo numbers and quality in beef cows grazing legume pastures. A 7-week controlled grazing trial was conducted with legume and ryegrass pasture treatments, with cows exposed to legumes at two timed treatments, 4 and 7 weeks. Twenty Angus cows were subjected to a conventional estrus synchronization and superovulation protocol. Embryos were recovered via conventional uterine body flushing 7 days post artificial insemination (AI). Numerous phytoestrogens were identified in both pasture and plasma samples, including coumestrol and formononetin. Concentrations of phytoestrogens in the pasture ranged from 0.001 to 47.5 mg/kg DM and 0 to 2.6 ng/mL in plasma. Approximately 50% of cows produced viable embryos 7 days post AI. A significant interaction between the effect of treatment groups on the embryo stage was observed (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The results suggest that concentrations of >25 mg/kg DM of phytoestrogens less than 20 days preceding AI may negatively affect oocyte developmental competence, reduce progesterone production and thus contribute to early embryonic loss. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:49:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-097d36c1f0b64644ba7974f688cc6130 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:49:34Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-097d36c1f0b64644ba7974f688cc61302024-04-12T13:14:27ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-04-01147112510.3390/ani14071125Effects of Mixed Pasture Legume Phytoestrogens on Superovulatory Response and Embryo Quality in Angus CowsJessica M. Wyse0Rory P. Nevard1Jaymie Loy2Paul A. Weston3Saliya Gurusinghe4Jeffrey McCormick5Leslie A. Weston6Cyril P. Stephen7School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, AustraliaGulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, AustraliaSchool of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, AustraliaGulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, AustraliaGulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, AustraliaSchool of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, AustraliaGulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, AustraliaSchool of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, AustraliaOvulation and artificial insemination rates have been observed to decrease in sheep and cows when exposed to dietary phytoestrogens at concentrations greater than 25 mg/kg DM. A grazing trial was undertaken to investigate the effects of coumestrol and other key phytoestrogens on the superovulatory response, embryo numbers and quality in beef cows grazing legume pastures. A 7-week controlled grazing trial was conducted with legume and ryegrass pasture treatments, with cows exposed to legumes at two timed treatments, 4 and 7 weeks. Twenty Angus cows were subjected to a conventional estrus synchronization and superovulation protocol. Embryos were recovered via conventional uterine body flushing 7 days post artificial insemination (AI). Numerous phytoestrogens were identified in both pasture and plasma samples, including coumestrol and formononetin. Concentrations of phytoestrogens in the pasture ranged from 0.001 to 47.5 mg/kg DM and 0 to 2.6 ng/mL in plasma. Approximately 50% of cows produced viable embryos 7 days post AI. A significant interaction between the effect of treatment groups on the embryo stage was observed (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The results suggest that concentrations of >25 mg/kg DM of phytoestrogens less than 20 days preceding AI may negatively affect oocyte developmental competence, reduce progesterone production and thus contribute to early embryonic loss.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/1125lucernephytoestrogenssuperovulationfolliclecorpus luteumembryo |
| spellingShingle | Jessica M. Wyse Rory P. Nevard Jaymie Loy Paul A. Weston Saliya Gurusinghe Jeffrey McCormick Leslie A. Weston Cyril P. Stephen Effects of Mixed Pasture Legume Phytoestrogens on Superovulatory Response and Embryo Quality in Angus Cows Animals lucerne phytoestrogens superovulation follicle corpus luteum embryo |
| title | Effects of Mixed Pasture Legume Phytoestrogens on Superovulatory Response and Embryo Quality in Angus Cows |
| title_full | Effects of Mixed Pasture Legume Phytoestrogens on Superovulatory Response and Embryo Quality in Angus Cows |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Mixed Pasture Legume Phytoestrogens on Superovulatory Response and Embryo Quality in Angus Cows |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Mixed Pasture Legume Phytoestrogens on Superovulatory Response and Embryo Quality in Angus Cows |
| title_short | Effects of Mixed Pasture Legume Phytoestrogens on Superovulatory Response and Embryo Quality in Angus Cows |
| title_sort | effects of mixed pasture legume phytoestrogens on superovulatory response and embryo quality in angus cows |
| topic | lucerne phytoestrogens superovulation follicle corpus luteum embryo |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/1125 |
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